Georgia Tech rally falls short, Syracuse beats Yellow Jackets 31-28

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Georgia Tech’s furious late-game comeback came up just short, as the Yellow Jackets fell to Syracuse, 31-28, in a thrilling Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday afternoon. The loss snapped Georgia Tech’s three-game winning streak and dropped the No. 23-ranked Yellow Jackets to 2-1 on the season (1-1 ACC).

Trailing 31-14 with under six minutes remaining, Georgia Tech mounted a spirited rally that included an onside kick recovery and two late touchdowns. Quarterback Haynes King led the charge, scoring on a pair of touchdown runs (21 and 26 yards) to pull the Yellow Jackets within three points at 31-28 with 2:31 left. However, Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 ACC) managed to pick up two crucial first downs on its ensuing possession, running out the clock and sealing the win.

Despite the loss, Georgia Tech’s offense continued its solid play, particularly in pass protection. For the third consecutive game, the Yellow Jackets did not allow a sack, marking the first time since 2014 that Tech has gone three straight games without giving up a sack. In this stretch, Georgia Tech attempted 86 passes compared to just 33 during the 2014 run.

King was a standout for the Yellow Jackets, accounting for 333 yards of total offense — 266 passing and 67 rushing — and three touchdowns (one passing, two rushing). It was the sixth time in King’s 16 games at Georgia Tech that he surpassed 300 total yards, with Saturday’s performance being his best since a 377-yard outing in last season’s 46-42 win over No. 17 North Carolina.

Wide receiver Malik Rutherford made history in the loss, becoming the 25th player in Georgia Tech history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards. Rutherford’s seven receptions, matching a career high, contributed to a balanced Yellow Jackets offense.

On special teams, Georgia Tech matched a school record by blocking two kicks. Senior defensive lineman Zeek Biggers blocked a field goal in the first quarter — the third of his career — while freshman defensive lineman Amontrae Bradford recorded his first career blocked punt in the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets have blocked nine kicks in Brent Key’s 24 games as head coach and 33 overall since 2013, ranking fourth nationally in blocked kicks over that span.

Although the Yellow Jackets’ late push was impressive, they struggled to contain Syracuse early on, allowing the Orange to build a 31-14 lead. Georgia Tech’s defense stiffened in the fourth quarter, giving their offense a chance to come back, but Syracuse’s ability to control the ball in the final minutes dashed the Yellow Jackets’ hopes for a comeback.

With the loss, Georgia Tech fell to 4-2 all-time against Syracuse, including an 0-2 mark at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Yellow Jackets will look to bounce back next week as they return to Bobby Dodd Stadium to face ACC rival Wake Forest.